Smart Vent System

ABSTRACT

Smart Vent System is the automation of air vents that are used in centralized heating and cooling systems(HVAC). Smart Vent is the air vent which can automatically open/close/partially close, controlling the air flow that passes through it. Smart vent receives the control commands from the Smart Vent System&#39;s Hub using wireless communication protocols. Smart Vent System&#39;s Hub determines the opening/closing of the Smart Vent(s) based on the temperature reading it receives from Temperature Collectors that are places at various locations in the room(s)/area(s), using wireless communication protocols and the desired temperature(s) stored in it. Smart Vent System Hub is programmed using web browser on a computer or a smart phone/tablet application, for various Time(s)/Temperature/Room(s)/Area combinations that are desired. Smart Vent Hub is also programmed for pairing(s), that creates affinity of Temperature Collectors with Smart Vents. All the Smart Vents &amp; Temperature Collectors send the heart beat signals to the Smart Vents Hub from time to time, which are used for system diagnostics.

BACKGROUND

Traditional centralized HVAC units pumps the hot or cold air to entire area through all the air vents based on the desired temperature(s) set in the single thermostat. This creates undesired results in terms of temperatures (undesired hot and/or cold zones) as the entire area does not reach the desired temperatures at the same time. This is due to room/area sizes, shapes or closeness of the vent to the central HVAC unit. In another situation, it is not possible to dynamically control temperatures in certain area/rooms to the desired temperatures (rooms that are used only in certain time(s) of the day) unless the air vent is closed/opened manually which is not a practical solution. This entire setup leads to the inefficient usage of the energy apart from the inconvenience created due to undesired temperatures.

SUMMARY

Smart Vent System addresses this problem by automatically opening, closing or partially closing based on the desired temperature(s). Smart Vent communicates with smart vent system's hub over wireless protocol. Smart Vent System's hub controls all the smart vents in the entire house/office/shopping center by collecting the latest temperatures from the temperature collectors (digital thermometers—thermistors) from time to time, that are registered with it and located at various points in the entire heating/cooling area. Temperature collectors communicate with smart vent system's hub over the wireless protocol, to send temperature readings. Smart Vent System's hub establishes the Temperature Collectors affinity(pairing) with its closest Smart Vent and basis its decision to open/close/partially close that particular Smart Vent from the temperature readings received from these temperature collectors. Smart Vent System's hub is programmed wirelessly using a computer web browser or a smart phone/tablet application.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In FIG. 1, item 100 is one of the room/area that uses centralized HVAC unit for heating and cooling.

In FIG. 1, Item 101 is the “Smart Vent” that can control the air flow based on the command signal it receives from the Smart Vent Systems Hub (item 107) using wireless communication network protocol. It also sends the heart beat signal from time to time to the Smart Vent Hub over the wireless network communication. It is battery powered. Its default behavior is “open”. Every Smart Vent has hard coded unique ID by which every one of the Smart Vent is identified uniquely. Smart Vent Systems Hub uses this unique ID in its command signal.

In FIG. 1, items 102, 103 & 104 are the Temperature Collectors (Digital Thermistor based), which sends the temperature reading to the Smart Vent System Hub (item 107) from time to time wirelessly over the wireless communication network protocol. These Temperature Collectors are battery powered.

In FIG. 1, items 105 are the information signals (temperature readings and/or heart beat) sent from other units to the Smart Vent Systems Hub.

In FIG. 1, items 106 is the command signal sent from Smart Vent System Hub to the Smart Vent.

in FIG. 1, item 107 is the Smart Vent Systems Hub. This is a computer process based that acts as wireless network communication hot spot (WiFi) for all the Smart Vents and Temperature Collectors. It is powered by conventional electricity and plugged into the wall's electric outlet. It has a computer program that uses the algorithm to make logical decisions to open or close various Smart Vents based on the temperature readings received from various Temperature Collectors, desired temperature pre settings, time pre settings and room(s)/Area(s) pre settings and their combinations. It uses the heart beat signals from various units for diagnostics and to identify dead/faulty units. It is programmed to create affinity between Smart Vent(s) and Temperature Collectors by pairing them. This pairing helps Smart Vent systems Hub's decision making process to either open/close or partially close a particular Smart Vent. When the desired temperatures are reached, all the Smart Vents are opened for the safety and precaution. Smart Vent Systems Hub is programmed for all the desired presetting using web browser or application using computer, smart phone or tablet.

In FIG. 1, item 108 represent a computer, tablet or a smart phone that has a wireless communication capability. One of these the mentioned device is used to configure Smart Vent Systems Hub & program all the desired pre settings in terms of Smart Vents and Temperature Collectors pairing, temperatures, times and all the other related information that is required for the operation of the entire Smart Vent System.

FIG. 2 is showing the reverse side of the Smart Vent.

In FIG. 2, items labeled 201 are the movable vent fins that can be either opened, closed or partially closed.

In FIG. 2, item 202 is the battery(DC) powered or/and wind powered motor that assist in moving the vent fins in forward & reverse direction using the belt labeled 204. It as a built in electro magnetic latch that locks the belt in place, which is all controlled by the control board labeled 203.

In FIG. 2, Item 203 is the battery (DC) powered, processor based electronic circuit board that controls the motor 202 upon receiving the command signal from Smart Vent Systems Hub. It posses the wireless network communication capability. It has hard coded Unique ID.

In FIG. 2, Item 204 is the belt that assists in vent fins movement in forward and reverse direction. It is looped through motor 202 on one end and spring pivot 205.

In FIG. 2, item 205 is the spring powered pivot. Its default behavior is to move the vent fins in open position. This default behavior is to make Smart Vent System safe to use and operate.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

For the entire system to operate—all the Smart Vents are installed in place of air vents from which air flows in centralized heating and cooling system. Temperature Collectors are installed at various locations in the room(s)/Area(s), at least one per Smart Vent with no maximum limit as shown in FIG. 1. Smart Vent System Hub is configured in terms of pairing every Smart Vent with its respective Temperature Collectors. Smart Vent Systems Hub is also programmed for desired temperatures/times per room/area. During the operation, all the temperature collectors sends the temperature readings in set time intervals to Smart Vent Systems Hub. As described in the previous sections, Smart Vent System Hub monitors the temperatures in all the area(s)/room(s). When the desired temperatures are reached it, sends the command to close the respective Smart Vent where the desired temperature/time is reached. When the desired temperatures are reached in all the room(s)/area(s), it opens all the Smart Vents for safe operation. This prevents from excess air pressure build up in the central heating and cooling system, if central heating/cooling system is still operating/running even after the desired temperatures are reached. 

1. Automatically controlling the opening, closing or partially closing the air vent in centralized heating & cooling system is unique.
 2. Achieving the desired temperatures in each room/area in centralized heating & cooling system is unique.
 3. Consistently maintaining the same desired temperature eliminating hot and/or cold zones in the centralized heating & cooling system is unique.
 4. System for controlling desired temperatures in various area(s)/room(s) over the internet/WiFi without replacing/modifying/changing the existing thermostat in the centralized heating & cooling system is unique. 